Evaluation of osteopathic manipulative treatment in pain reduction in pregnant women during third trimester and postpartum: Review Article

The female body undergoes physiological changes during pregnancy that often lead to low back pain (LBP). To assess a non-pharmaceutical treatment option for LBP, a literature review was conducted comparing research trials using Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment (OMT) and its effect on LBP experienced in the third trimester and postpartum. Research studies using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) to rate pain were used and the effects of OMT was analyzed. It was found that, compared to usual treatment for LBP, OMT provided significant relief of pain for patients. While research conducted in pregnant populations is limited, further research is required to assess OMT technique models on individuals and the effect on pain throughout pregnancy through the postpartum period.

Fast improvements in functional status after osteopathic manipulative treatment based on myofascial release in patients with moderate or severe fibromyalgia: a retrospective study

Objectives Fibromyalgia (FM) is a chronic pain syndrome characterized by a large variety of symptoms. Evidence suggests that an alteration of central nervous system processing of pain could be involved. The purpose of this study is to analyze clinical records of patients affected by FM who underwent osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT), predominantly based on a myofascial release approach (MFR). Methods This retrospective study considered records of 21 FM patients with moderate or severe functional impact, who consented to OMT in addition to their usual care. The assessment considered the following measures: FIQ (functional status), SF36 (quality of life), VAS (pain), TSK (kinesiophobia) and PSQI (quality of sleeping). Patients were preliminarily assessed over a 1 month run-in phase, then after 1, 2 and 4 months; a 1 month follow-up was also considered. Results After one month, 71% of patients reported a decrease in functional impact and scores remained stable until follow-up (from 69.8 to 52.37, p≤0.001). Overall, after four months, patients improved their quality of life, with a score ranging from 33.47 to 42.6 (p≤0.05). We also observed a reduction of pain (p≤0.05). Conclusions A series of OMT sessions based on MFR could play a therapeutic role in improving functional status, pain and quality of life over a period of 4 months.

Insomnia diagnosis and management: an osteopathic approach

Insomnia affects a large percentage of American adults and is among the most commonly treated medical conditions in the outpatient clinical setting. The psychological, medical and financial impact of insomnia is substantial. Research indicates that pharmacologic treatment is associated with significant risk, and clinicians should consider other modalities including cognitive behavioral therapy before prescribing medications for the treatment of insomnia. Other complementary treatments including yoga, stress management and traditional Chinese medical therapies are promising, but more research is needed. The osteopathic family physician plays an important role in diagnosis and management. An osteopathic approach to patient care is highly beneficial and includes a multifaceted evaluation when taking a patient history and osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT) to balance autonomic tone and correct associated somatic dysfunction.

An osteopathic approach to occipital neuralgia and tinnitus

Eye pain and ringing in the ear are non-specific symptoms commonly evaluated by primary care physicians and specialists alike. The differential diagnosis for these symptoms is broad and includes musculoskeletal, ophthalmologic and neurologic considerations. Careful consideration of the differential diagnosis should include acute, potentially life-threatening pathologies such as glaucoma or intracranial masses, as well as common pathologies, including cervicalgia, headache variants (migraine, tension) and acoustic neuroma. This report describes a patient with eye pain caused by occipital neuralgia and tinnitus. Correcting the somatic dysfunctions found in the head, cervical, thoracic and rib regions with osteopathic manipulative treatment resolved the occipital neuralgia and the tinnitus for this patient. Thus, osteopathic manipulative treatment should be considered for conservative management of occipital neuralgia and tinnitus.

Efficacy of osteopathic manipulative treatment in patients with Parkinson’s disease: a narrative review

Context Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disease that leads to impaired motor and non-motor function in patients. PD is non-curative and gradually reduces quality of life, leading patients to seek treatment for symptom management. Osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT) applies the biomechanical, neurologic, circulatory, metabolic, and psychosocial models in approaching and treating the major symptomatology of PD patients. Objectives This article evaluates the literature published in the past 10 years analyzing evidence on OMT and its functional application on gait, balance, motor function, bradykinesia, and autonomic dysfunctions, and to identify promising avenues for further investigation. Methods The authors obtained studies from the research databases MEDLINE/PubMed, ScienceDaily, and EBSCO, as well as the Journal of American Osteopathic Association’s published archives. Searches were conducted in December 2020 utilizing the search phrases “OMM” (osteopathic manipulative medicine), “OMT,” “osteopathic,” “Parkinson Disease,” “manual therapy,” “physical therapy,” “training,” “autonomics,” “gait,” and “balance.” Articles published between 2010 and 2021 including subjects with Parkinson’s disease and the use of OMT or any other form of manual therapy were included. Five authors independently performed literature searches and methodically resolved any disagreements over article selection together. Results There were a total of 10,064 hits, from which 53 articles were considered, and five articles were selected based on the criteria. Conclusions The progressive nature of PD places symptom management on the forefront of maintaining patients’ quality of life. OMT has demonstrated the greatest efficacy on managing motor-related and neurologic symptoms and assists in treating the greater prevalence of somatic dysfunctions that arise from the disease. Research in this field remains limited and should be the target of future research.

Single Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment Session Eliminates Percutaneous Coronary Intervention-Induced Upper Thoracic Pain in Elderly Male

Restoration of blood flow is critical to a blocked coronary blood vessel. With respect to the heart, two main procedures, coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) and percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) revascularize the area to prevent future blockages. Post-procedurally, bed rest iatrogenically produces non-life-threatening back pain.1,2 No exact guideline for the duration of post-procedural bed rest exists but recommendations range from 2 to 24 hours.1 However, research has shown that bed rest beyond 4 hours significantly increased the presence of post-procedural back pain.1,2 Osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT) is the term ascribed to a number of categories of manual techniques used by osteopathic physicians to treat somatic dysfunctions, to complement conventional management in patient care. In this case report, we discuss a patient with post-procedural upper thoracic pain that resolves with OMT, demonstrating that OMT may play a useful post-PCI role in the care of patients who undergo stent procedures.

Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment in Patients with Anxiety and Depression: A Pilot Study

Background & Aims: The role of touch in managing psychiatric patients is controversial. The purpose of this pilot study was to determine the effectiveness of osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT) in patients with anxiety and or depression. Methods: This was an 8-week pilot study comparing a treatment to a control group, each consisting of 10 randomly assigned adult participants with anxiety and or depression on psychotropics. No significant difference existed between groups for age or severity of disease. Participant responses for anxiety and depression were recorded weekly via a modified Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7 item (GAD-7) and Harvard National Depression Screening Day (HANDS) scales. From the initial cohort (n=20) a complete database was achieved for 16 of the patients. Statistical analysis was performed using RStudio. Results: Of the 16 patients who successfully participated in the study, 6 received OMT, and 10 were part of the control group. For statistical purposes, the data gathered from both groups were subdivided into two categories: depression and anxiety subgroups. The depression treatment group had a week 1 mean of 24.4 ± 11.2 (n=5) with a paired t-test showing significance at week 7 of 18.0 ± 10.9 (n=5), P = .00767 and week 8 of 15.2 ± 12.5 (n=5), P = .041.The anxiety treatment group had a week 1 mean of 26.0 ± 8.7 (n=5) with paired t-test significant at week 7 of 20.2 ± 10.7 (n=5), P = .019 and week 8 of 19.2 ± 11.1 (n=5), P = .00815.All patients in the treatment group showed significant improvements in their anxiety and depression levels compared to those in the control group, which worsened by week 8. Conclusions: Findings in this study indicate that OMT may be an effective adjunctive treatment modality for depression and anxiety.

Conductive Hearing Loss: A Case Report

In this case report, osteopathic manipulative treatment restored hearing to an 8-year-old female suffering from conductive hearing loss. Numerous factors can result in hearing loss. In children and adolescents, mild or greater hearing loss occurs with a prevalence of 3.1%.1 Current osteopathic literature focuses on conductive hearing loss due to middle ear effusion (MEE).This case report examines an 8-year-old female presumed to have permanent conductive hearing loss without MEE after a traumatic ATV accident. The use of osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT) resulted in complete resolution of the patient’s conductive hearing loss. To the authors’ knowledge, this is the first case report documenting the successful use of OMT to treat conductive hearing loss without MEE. Being able to recognize and understand the connection between the primary respiratory mechanism (PRM), which includes the cranial bones and nerves, allows an osteopathic physician to provide a unique approach to patient care and the use of OMT as a treatment modality for conductive hearing loss should be considered.